Zusman: Befriend a skipper and you can join the crew

Sailors are a friendly group — partly because that is their nature, but also because it takes a crew to run a boat, and skippers often need company.

That means if you’re a friendly sort yourself, you can likely find a skipper who will take you aboard as crew. It’s a plus if you know how to sail, but if you are enthusiastic and reliable, many skippers are willing to teach.

Racing skippers in particular need to count on their crews — on larger boats it might take five or six pairs of willing hands — so if you can make the commitment of time, you are likely to find a welcome.

Checking with a sailing yacht club is one way to make sailing connections. The Monmouth Boat Club in Red Bank, for example, is compiling a data bank for MBC skippers to connect with prospective crew. Club membership is not required, said Denis Farley. Contact him at sailinglessons@verizon.net. Newcomers are welcome, he said.

The Raritan Yacht Club in Perth Amboy has an active racing program aboard larger boats and there is often a need for crew. For information e-mail membership@ryc.org. The club also offers sailing lessons.

Inland, Hunterdon Sailing Club members sail a variety of small boats, including Jet 14s and Flying Scots, which require crew. Check online at sailhsc.org. Newcomers are welcome.
Sailing clubs in North Jersey, also including Long Beach Island, are members of the North Jersey Yacht Racing Association. Find them listed at njyra.org. Barnegat Bay clubs belong to the Barnegat Bay Yacht Racing Association. Check bbyra.org.

Skippers and crew must work together comfortably, so personal “chemistry” is important. Also, in the heat of racing, when sail-handling mistakes can cost valuable seconds or minutes, some skippers get abrasive, while others are more laid back. See what works for you.

The Greater New York Sailing Group for one has an upcoming series of seminars, including a talk by America’s Cup competitor Dawn Riley. They often meet at the City Island Yacht Club at nearby Long Island Sound and draw many participants from North Jersey.

Sailing groups often have social calendars and speakers. Last Wednesday found me at a meeting of the Bergen County chapter of SEAS for a talk on celestial navigation. Not that I am ever likely to need that, but it was rewarding to increase my nautical knowledge just a bit.

SEAS consists of chapters in Bergen, Morris and Monmouth counties in New Jersey and Westchester County in New York. The group offers small-boat sailing lessons and members have access to larger boats. The Monmouth chapter sails an O’Day 28 on Raritan Bay and the Bergen chapter sails a Catalina 27 on the Hudson River at Haverstraw, N.Y.

CRUISING SEMINAR

North U, the education division of North Sails, will offer a seminar on cruising and seamanship Saturday, April 14, at the Keyport Yacht Club. For fee information and to register go to northu.com.

ON THE RACE COURSE

College sailing teams will race tomorrow and Sunday in a regatta hosted by the Ocean County College sailing team and the Toms River Yacht Club.